African Slang Words Starting With "M"

Likizo ya uzazi (Maternity)

Another slang for matatu.

Ndizi za kupika (Cooking bananas)

Tope (Mud)

Matumaini (Hope)

Utumbo (Tripe)

Mavazi ya sherehe (Celebration attire)

Mawingu (Clouds)

Mawingu mazito (Heavy clouds)

Mayai ya kukaanga (Fried eggs)

Mayai na soseji (Eggs and sausage)

An exclamation like 'man!' or 'dude!' Used to express various emotions.

Bro/dude (like an exclamation), or used to emphasize in conversation.

Mazishi (Funeral)

An older man who spends on younger ladies (sugar daddy).

Classic slang for 20 shillings (literally 'a plank of wood,' perhaps from a time a board cost 20/-). Still used widely.

While it means 'bad' in standard Swahili, in slang it can mean 'cool/awesome' (similar to 'sick' in English).

Baadaye (Later)

'Races on the floor,' a phrase meaning going nowhere despite effort (running in place). Used to describe futile efforts ...

Mtu mweusi (Dark-skinned person)

A dumb or dull person.

Means 'crew' or squad of friends. From Kikuyu mũbũgi (group). Popularized in songs ('mbogi genje').

Kundi la wazee (Group of elders / respected people)

Mbolea ya kinyesi (Organic fertilizer)

Kazi kwa Kitaita (Work in Taita)

Kwa nini hivyo? (Why like that?)

Mkubwa / mheshimiwa (Boss / respected person)

Mtu wa rangi ya kahawia (Brown-skinned person)

Mtu mvivu (Lazy person)

Literally 'goat,' but used to call someone stubborn or foolish.

A boastful or arrogant person.

Mtu mdahili hafanyi kazi (A choosy person doesn't work)

Mchana (Afternoon)

Mchezo (Game)

Mwenda wazimu (Crazy person)

Short for mchokozi, meaning a troublemaker or teaser. Used for someone who instigates drama or playfully teases others.

Slang for the playful art of trading insults (roasting).

Fiancé; boyfriend/girlfriend

Mtu mzuri (Cute person)

Mtu tajiri (Rich person)

Maneno mengi (Too much talk)

Rich person

Wakati wangu (Me time)

Alama ya wastani (Mean grade)

Mchezo wa mpira (Football match)

Mtu mashuhuri wa vyombo vya habari (Media personality)

Kukutana na sanaa (Meet and greet)

Mkutano (Meeting)

Mkuu wa meme (Meme master)

Picha za kuchekesha (Funny pictures)